[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Chadds Ford 9-9-2002 by Ord. No. 99. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
ANIMAL
Wild or domesticated animal(s) of all species, including dogs, cats and other household pets.
OWNER
When applied to an animal, includes any person or persons having a right of property in such animal; and/or any person or persons who keeps or harbors such animal and/or has cared for it; and/or any person or persons who permits such animal to be on or about any premises owned and/or occupied by him.
RUN AT LARGE or RUNNING AT LARGE
Being upon any public highway, street, alley, park, or any other public land, or upon property of another person other than the owner, and not being accompanied by or under the control of the owner or any other person having custody of said animal.
One or more animal control officer(s) may be appointed by the Board of Supervisors or hired pursuant to a contract approved by the Board of Supervisors to serve at the pleasure of the Board or for the term of said contract. Such animal control officer(s) along with any police officer, as defined in the Pennsylvania Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-101 et seq., shall have concurrent responsibility for the enforcement of this chapter and of the Pennsylvania Dog Law, provided that the animal control officer shall not have the power to make arrests under said Act of Assembly or any other Act of Assembly or any ordinance of Chadds Ford Township.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to allow or permit such animal to run at large in Chadds Ford Township.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to allow or permit such animal to leave and/or deposit waste, including urine and/or feces, from such animal on any property not owned by the owner of such animal, unless the owner of such animal has permission from the property owner for such leaving and/or depositing of waste.
A. 
Call to duty. The animal control officer(s) shall be available for call 24 hours per day and may be called to duty at the discretion of any member of the Board of Supervisors, the Code Enforcement Officer, or any Chadds Ford resident.
B. 
Transportation of animals. If it is determined that the transportation of an animal is necessary, the animal control officer(s) shall have the authority to transport the animal or have said animal transported.
C. 
Seizure of animals. The animal control officer may seize any animal found running at large and cause that animal to be detained or otherwise dealt with as authorized by the Pennsylvania Dog Law.
D. 
Injured or dead animals. Upon the report of an injured or dead animal in Chadds Ford Township, an animal control officer may be notified and directed to report to the scene and assume responsibility for the animal. Dead animals located on Township property, where the owner of the animal is unavailable, may be removed by the animal control officer. PennDOT may be notified to remove dead animals from state roadways.
E. 
Dangerous or vicious animals. Upon report of a animal that has either bitten another person or has threatened another person while running at large, an animal control officer may be requested to report to the scene by any member of the Board of Supervisors, the Code Enforcement Officer, or any Chadds Ford Township resident. If the owner of the animal is unavailable or unknown, the animal control officer may use a tranquilizer gun or other approved method to subdue the animal and/or take appropriate action to protect the safety of persons who were bitten or threatened. An animal determined to be dangerous under Section 502-A of the Pennsylvania Dog Law, 3 P.S. § 459-502A, shall be restrained or otherwise kept or disposed of in accordance with the Pennsylvania Dog Law. Animals may be killed only in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Dog Law.
F. 
Release to SPCA or other licensed kennel. When any animal is detained by an animal control officer, said animal will be released to an SPCA or other licensed kennel, if possible, and the animal control officer must inform the SPCA or licensed kennel personnel of the specific period of time for which the animal is to be held and to whom the animal is to be released.
G. 
Wild animals. For complaints involving wild animals and protected animals, an animal control officer may be notified to respond to the request or complaint unless the animal control officer determines that a state game official is better suited to respond to the complaint, and the animal control officer notifies such an official of the same.
H. 
An animal control officer may perform such other duties which he is authorized to perform pursuant to the Pennsylvania Dog Law.
A. 
The animal control officer is authorized to charge a fee to the party requesting his/her call to duty based on a schedule that has been approved by the Board of Supervisors of Chadds Ford Township.
B. 
If the requester is a Supervisor of Chadds Ford Township or its Code Enforcement Officer, the fee of the animal control officer will be paid by Chadds Ford Township.
C. 
If the requester is a resident of Chadds Ford Township, the resident will be responsible for paying the fee of the animal control officer for the requested service.
D. 
The animal control officer will advise the requester of what the fee to respond will be prior to performing the requested service.
E. 
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, however, if the animal control officer issues a citation to an owner of an animal as a result of the requested service, this chapter authorizes the judge conducting the hearing on the citation to, at his discretion and in addition to any other penalties, fines and/or costs, order the owner of the animal to pay to the animal control officer the animal control officer's call-to-duty fee for such service, in which case the animal control officer will reimburse the requester of such service for such amount.
The first two times an owner of an animal is issued a citation and is found to have violated the provisions of this chapter, the owner of such animal shall pay a fine in an amount up to $100 to Chadds Ford Township as well as any fees and/or costs incurred by the Township or its animal control officer for responding to the request or complaint and to keep the animal in a kennel or other structure, for pickup and transporting the animal to the Delaware County SPCA or other facility, and for enforcement proceedings. For each and every violation of this chapter other than for the first two times an animal is seized for running at large or for any other reason as provided in the chapter, the owner of the animal involved shall, upon conviction by the Magisterial District Judge, be guilty of a summary offense and subject to a fine of not more than $1,000; and/or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days.